T-18 NEWSLETTER N22JH James Hockenbrock's beautiful ship In This Issue: Editor Trim Tabs Flight Safety Letter to the Editor Electric Trim - Gary Green Taming The Tiger's Tail - Dave Eby Engine Change-Out - Harry Paine Canopy Installation - Terry Adams NOTICE: (STANDARD DISCLAIMER) As always, in the past, present, and future newsletters, we would like to make you aware that this newsletter is only presented as a clearing house for ideas and opiniotlS3 or personal experiences and that anyone using these ideas, opinions, or experiences. do so at their own discretion and risk. There/ore, no responsibility or liability is expressed or implied and is without recourse against anyone. 1 year old going back to college for an engineering degree, truck drivers, doctors, engineers, and military pilots, etc. etc. all having a co=on goal and interest, by sharing this background and building expe­ rience we add momentum to each project and as a result more T -ISs will be in the air. My thanks to you. Your response to my One thing is clear we are an old bunch, (I am request for support and 1990 dues was qualified to say that at 54) and should be great. For you that took the mighty pen in working to get some younger people into the hand and included a note of appreciation building stages. A ride in aT-18 is the best "your welcome", It's a good feeling to know sales pitch you can give. For a new builder that you like the direction were headed. An nothing helps more that to have a mentor, to even bigger "THANK YOU" to you that provide help and answer questions when took the time to write and submitt an article. those hard problems arise. I've had several As you will see, the article contributions over the years inclucing Howard Hender­ in this letter provide some excellant safety son, and now Paul Kirik. 1 don't think this and building tips. 1 notice that several of is an easy plane to build, It might be possible the articles were prepared and typed on to rush and assemble a fuselage in several computer word processors. It would be a days. However I Can tell you that Paul great help in the future to have a floppy disk, Kirik's Wright Brothers Award did'nt come along with the printed copy. This would from that sort of work. In my case 1 spent allow a direct read-in to my publishing more time then that just deburring and software without retyping. 1 can read any dimpling holes after taking it apart after mM compatable disk, let me know which initial assembly. Maybe the hardest part is sticking to one project for such a long time. If you've backed off get back to it, start o again on some small item and finish it. o This will provide a rewarding experience that will carry you on the the next item, and someday a flying "Tiger". wordprocessor you are using. The newslet­ On a sad note, Sylvan Keebler, Bentoina, ter sections that I would like to have as Mississippi passed away, as mentioned in standard fare will be, Letters to the Editor, Letter #73 he had been ill for some time. Safety and Flight Operations, For Sale Items, Announcement of Events, Reports on Events In closing, The Paines sent me an anounce­ and a Building Section. Your suggestions ment of another "Kentucky T -18 Get To­ are welcome for any changes you would like gether, its on May 11 & 12, so hope to see you to see to this general format. there. Last years turnout was 20 T-18 and over 50 people everyone had a great time! No one ever said that doing this newsletter would be easy. I can tell you, however that it certainly is rewarding, in the many people you meet and have an opporunity to learn from. We have an association of individuals with varied backgrounds, to name a few; a 59 2 I am glad to see someone like Jim Paine is looking into this who can get somebody to run some numbers on a fix. Sincerely Dick Amsden SIN 1268, N32AH, 150 HP Lyc 0320G, 9261bs. empty wt. TT 570 Hours. 20704 Birch Meadow Dr. Mt. Clemens, Mi 48042 Another letter: This one from John F. Kenton, *** Do any of the fellows expe­ rience landing gear bending at the axle stubs? I have already shimmed my axle stubs twice to put them back into tracking More Gear Problems! alignment. ** John Kenton 16611126th Dear Rich, In regards to cracked welds in Pl.SE, Renton, Wa 98058 the landing gears. I have a crack on both gear legs on front side (don't know about Paul Kirik will be writing this column in the back side yet) at cross member. The legs are future, he did'nt make it this time due to not bent. Suspect fatigue after 500 hours taking his Multi-engine, plus installing a flying and a landing on sad at~ Beaver Island , constant speed propellor in his T-18, he's a Lake Michigan in October 89. I don't know busy man. what they used for grass, but it just shook the whole airplane. Some kind of knobby FAA approved weeds! This gear cracked on R.H. leg and bent aft 11/2" in 1983 when my partner at that time was trying to learn to fly. It is 2 1/2" longer, purchased from Jenkins. We bought another gear from Brock and that didn't crack, but R.R leg bent aft 11/4". My partner quit. Purchased a 4130 tube to slip over the leg and slotted to clear the cross member, but didn't use it. Instead, I had the Jenkins cracked gear welded and completely re annealed and heat treated by a high class heat treat shop in Detriot. This is the gear that has a crack on each leg now. It is a weak spot on the airplane. In 1983 Bob Dial had a cracked gear in his hangar from some other guy's T -18. Cracked on aft L.H. side. 3 Editor: I remember hearing a great story about that aiJplane and a controller, something about I'm too sick to P-- also. (N262PE) What was that all about? lLe1t1l:em • • • • 0 0 • • • • • 0 • 0 • • • • • 0 • • • 0 • • • • • 1to 1the Dear Richard: Enclosed is $25 for 1990 Edi1tor Newsletters. I am just in the process of completing my first T-18 and will base it at Whiteman Airpark. SIN 682, Gordon We've recently moved to rural Oregon from MacDonald, Glendale, Calif too busy Orange County, Calif. Flying here • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • is great, and no crowded skies although a bit more IFR Weather: which brings me to A Dear Richard, I would like to personally REQUEST-- Would like to know ifanybody thank you for carrying on this task and I successfully installed a two axis autopilot in will support your efforts to the best that I a Thorp ?? Would be glad to accept a collect can, MyT-18 has the0-290"G"engine, call from any of the members who could shed standard wings/fuselage. I'm on the hori­ some light on it, or a note with some of the zontal tail now. SIN 1075. Thank you Nicho­ details. Good luck with the newsletter. Don las Shewalter, 4250 New Lothrop Rd. Skeele, 16933 Old Mehama Rd.,Stayton OR Corunna,MI48817 97383, Phone # 503-769-2563 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Richard, Welcome. I like what I see. Your Editor: How about it folks? Some one give him computer will clearly add a sense of class a shout! and professional look. I fly T -18 (N794PT) and have attended Oshkosh, Arlington et. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 • • • • • • • • al. If I can help by contributing please let Dear Richard: me know. Thanks for what your doing! Ron Here's my 1990 dues looking forward to your Johnson, Sparks, Nevada. new newsletter. T-18 sin 1087 N394AC has been flying since about 1977. I purchased it in Editor: Ron, how about sending a sketch of 1979 and have approx. 800 hrs on it. Harry your firewal4 showing the location of items Wheeler, One Dana DR., Groveland, MA in the engine compartment? Thanks! 01834 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 • • • • • • • • • • Dear Richard, Thank you for taking on the T-18 Newsletter. I really appreciate the Dear Richard: Good luck with your new job time Dick has put into it and what time you as editor. I look forward to receiving the will be contributing. I'm building an S upcoming issues. I own T-18 N262PE, version that is probably about 30% currently disassembled for rebuilding. The there. The projects for sale are of special newsletter. have been an excellent source of interest to me. I hope to streamline my information & encouragement. Keep up the costs & time a bit that way. Thanks again, good work. Thanks, Randall L. Porter, 1565 Terry McCartney, 22 134th St. SE, Everett, Glenwood Way, Upland, Calif 91786, Phone WA98204 714-985-8655 • • 0 • 0 • • • • • • • • 0 • • • • • • • • 0 0 • • • 0 • • • Editor: We all owe a large debt to Dick 4 Cavin and don't forget his wife, both have Power is a 0-320 with a wood prop Sen 66- spent hOUTS upon hours getting the newsletter 74. In 8 years of flying I have just over 400 out. The Tuesday Night T-18 banquet at hours flying time. I am based at Oakland Oshkosh this year will be held in Dick and Pontiac Airport in Michigan. Tail No. N8AL. Mrs Cavins honor.